After finishing up the student council tasks, I watched as Senior Alice dashed off in a hurry, muttering about some sort of emergency.
It was a bit of a letdown that I couldn’t spend more time with her, especially since she didn’t even complete her portion of the work.
But knowing Alice and her unique situation, it wasn’t surprising. Her character arc was approaching its climax soon, with significant events on the horizon.
While her storyline wasn’t really a major subplot for Lucas, it was a central narrative in her own route. Alice’s activities were crucial, especially given the covert threats she faced.
Unbeknownst to the academy and most of its inhabitants, the White Queen-a formidable, world-ending boss in the game-was making her already making her subtle moves into the world.
She was subtly weakening the seals that kept her at bay.
For a while now, ever since Alice joined the academy, she had been engaged in a covert battle against the monsters and armies dispatched by the [White Queen] within the fantastical dimension.
Understanding the gravity of Alice’s secret mission, I took it upon myself to complete her remaining tasks.
It was the least I could do to support her, especially when she was so dedicated to her covert duties.
‘I’m sure Senior will shower me with her thanks tomorrow.’ The thought of her gratitude filled me with a strange sense of anticipation.
Imagining her happy face full of smile, somehow made my day happier.
Packing up my room, I felt a sense of urgency.
The semester break was approaching, and I needed to say my goodbyes to Duke Luther before The returned to his duchy.
As I worked through my things, it struck me just how much would change once the break began.
I wouldn’t be seeing most of the main cast members for an extended period.
The heroines would head back to their hometowns or countries, and the protagonist, along with Janica, would retreat to his home village.
This separation was both a relief and a challenge in it’s own way….
Lucas was a key figure in my plans.
I’d confirmed that he would be useful in the future, and redirecting him towards Snow’s route seemed crucial.
Snow’s route had the most potential for him to acquire the Legendary weapon hidden in the empire’s royal treasury.
However, given Lucas’s current low affinity and relationship with Snow, making that happen seemed unlikely.
The problem was compounded by the fact that all forms of help from any of the heroines, except Janica, were nearly impossible now due to my lack of interactions with them.
This was a significant setback.
Despite this, there was still hope.
Lucas would return to his village, and while he wouldn’t have immediate access to the heroines, he would face numerous challenges ahead.
If the game’s narrative held true, he would encounter monsters and bandits along the way.
This could be an opportunity for him to gain experience and level up, even if he didn’t have a system to track his progress.
The opportunities available to me were indeed limited.
Staying back in the county would make it challenging to find dungeons or other means to level up effectively.
However, that didn’t mean I was entirely out of options.
There was still the matter of the twins. Investigating the Misty Mountains, which were relatively close to the academy, was something I hadn’t yet done.
Making a visit there wasn’t impossible and might provide some valuable insights or
resources.
As I contemplated these thoughts, a series of notifications popped up on my interface, interrupting my focus:
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
‘No…’
[Note: An Evil God’s blessing is waiting!]
[Do you wish to accept?]
[YES/NO]
‘No…’
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
I clicked my tongue in frustration. It hadn’t even been a few days since this pestering began, but it seemed like this god was relentless.
[Erebil], the evil god in question, was notorious in the game.
He or she was one of the hardest and most dangerous world-ending bosses, one that players would only face if they ventured into the secret harem route.
Given the current circumstances, I found it strange and unsettling that such a formidable entity was showing interest in me, especially when I had no intention of engaging with it.
The constant barrage of notifications was growing increasingly irritating:
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
Although I could confidently tell myself that I didn’t need to concern myself with it right now -considering the evil god was only ever a true threat once Liyana decided to not embrace her role in the world’s destruction-this incessant messaging was becoming a nuisance. It wouldn’t be much of a problem until then, but it was certainly annoying.
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
[Note: An evil god has sent you a message. Would you like to open?]
‘No matter how many times this thing asks for my attention, I have no intention of
responding’
If this so-called god truly had any understanding of its situation, it would pick up on the fact that I was deliberately ignoring it.
The memory of trailing this malevolent entity filled me with a shiver, especially considering how much more formidable and disturbing it was compared to Liyana.
[Erebil] the evil god, was something far worse.
Unlike Liyana, who was a significant threat but still somewhat predictable, Erebil represented
a level of danger that was unsettling and far beyond normal comprehension.
I needed a strategy to handle this persistent irritation.
Perhaps seeking out a church for some holy power might help mitigate the influence Erebil
had over me.
A touch of divine intervention might provide a buffer against this relentless annoyance and offer some peace of mind.
Walking out of the now-empty hallways of Heavenly Hall, I watched as the bright rays of the sun filtered through the large windows.
It was a serene moment, the kind that made me appreciate the quiet before the storm of the
upcoming semester break.
‘Looks like I finished everything much earlier than expected’ I mused.
Maybe I should make a detour to Seo’s place.
I hadn’t really had the time to interact with her these past few days.
The top-ranked students were swamped with requests from prospect scouts, which meant my
schedule had been packed.
But now, with a rare moment of free time, I felt it would be worth it to reconnect.
As I walked, the echoes of my footsteps bounced off the walls, a rhythmic reminder of my solitude. The hallways were spacious and grand, the architecture reflecting the academy’s
prestige.
It was during this tranquil walk that I was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face
approaching me.
‘Princess Snow White.’
The last time I had seen her was around 4-5 days ago, during the duke’s visit to the academy.
Her striking appearance was impossible to forget: snow-white hair that seemed to shimmer in the light and jewel-like blue eyes that held a confident, almost regal smile.
She moved with a grace that seemed to defy the mundane aspects of our daily lives.
“Riley,” she greeted, her voice smooth and warm.
There was a subtle excitement in her eyes, a contrast to her usual composed demeanor.
She took deliberate, gentle steps toward me, making her presence feel even more impactful.
Thump…!
My heart pounded as I looked at Snow’s face. I could feel the vibrations of my heartbeat echoing through my chest, louder and more insistent with each passing second.
‘Damn it!’
Thump!~Thump!~Thump!
No matter how hard I tried to steady myself, the memories from that day seemed to bleed
into my present reality.
The echo of Snow’s voice, so vivid and clear, was almost too much to handle.
“I love you, Riley…”
Her soft, gentle voice, full of an affection that felt both real and haunting, resonated with the
memory I had desperately tried to suppress.
It was as though the past had reached out and wrapped itself around me, refusing to let go.
“Riley? Are you alright?” Snow’s voice broke through my swirling thoughts.
Concern was etched across her face, her blue eyes wide with worry.
Even Ellie, her ever-dedicated maid, looked unsettled by my reaction.
I clenched my chest, trying to forcefully send mana to stabilize my erratic heartbeat.
My breaths came in sharp, uneven gasps as I struggled to regain control.
The vision of Snow from my dreams was crashing into my senses, making it nearly impossible
to focus on the present moment.
Her voice, so tender and loving, was like a wave crashing over me, threatening to pull me
under.
This was beyond embarrassing. I had thought I had come to terms with that memory, that I
had moved past it.
But standing here now, facing Snow in reality, I realized that was not the case. The wound was
still raw, the emotional scar still fresh.
“Ellie, I think we should take Riley-“
Before Snow could finish her sentence, my body moved on its own, driven by a surge of
emotions I could no longer control.
I wrapped my arms around her tightly, pushing her gently but firmly against the wall.
Tears started to well up in my eyes, blurring my vision.
Placing my head on her shoulder, I allowed the stream of tears to flow freely.
The warmth of her body, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest, provided a comforting
resonance against my troubled mind.
The physical closeness offered me a momentary escape from the chaotic turmoil within me,
even if only a small measure of relief.
“R-Riley, I-I don’t think this is-“
“I’m sorry, Snow….”
My voice trembled as I spoke, my apology barely more than a whisper amidst my choked sobs.
I clung to her, holding her as tightly as I could, trying to anchor myself in this fleeting solace.
My heart beat wildly, its erratic rhythm refusing to calm, no matter how desperately I tried to
steady it.
It was just a memory, a dream that had once tormented me. Yet here I was, overwhelmed by
emotions that had clearly not healed as I had hoped.
‘I’m so pathetic right now.’
The self-reproach mingled with the guilt and confusion of the moment.